By: Wes Nakama
Kalihi usually is not known as a popular tourist destination, but the high school football team from Villa Park (Calif.) turned Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium into a thrilling playground Friday night by racing past Damien, 37-13.
The Spartans, who are coming off a 6-6 season competing in Division 5 of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section, overcame an early 7-0 deficit and took a commanding 30-7 lead after the first play from scrimmage in the second half. The Monarchs closed it to 30-13 late in the third quarter, but Villa Park struck back almost immediately with a 50-yard touchdown play to take a 37-13 lead into the fourth.
“It was just a rough start, but we bounced back perfect and it worked out well,” said Spartans running back/linebacker Carter Chistie, who rushed for a game-high 181 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. “I think this week in Hawai’i, as a team just staying together, has helped us grow closer more as one unit.”
Villa Park, which is located about 10 miles East of Disneyland, arrived in Honolulu on Aug. 5 and scheduled various post-practice activities every day since.
“We did a bunch of excursions, we went kayaking, cliff diving, snorkeling …,” Christie said. “It’s been really fun.”
Damien did its best to stop that fun immediately after kickoff, marching 69 yards in nine plays on the opening drive, stretching the field horizontally with long swing passes toward each sideline and advancing to the Spartans’ 11-yard line. Then the drive ended with a lost fumble recovered by defensive end Gaddiel Perez.
But six plays later, Monarchs defensive back Micah Neizman intercepted a pass and darted 37 yards straight to the end zone, and Samuel Kawakami’s extra point gave Damien a 7-0 lead barely five minutes into the game.
After Jack Dragovich returned the ensuing kickoff 20 yards to the 40, the Spartans marched 60 yards in eight plays, culminating in Ethan Fraser’s 11-yard TD run. Dominic Ancich ran in the two-point conversion to give Villa Park the lead for good at 8-7 with 2:27 remaining in the first quarter.
After forcing the Monarchs into a three-and-out on the next possession, Villa Park faced 4th-and-19 from its own 32, but faked a punt and Lucas Simone threw to a wide-open Dragovich for a 41-yard gain. Five plays later, Dominic Ancich plunged in from 1-yard out and then Nate Lewis hit Jacob Poff for the two-point conversion to make it 16-7 with 9:38 left in the second quarter.
After cashing in on another fourth-down conversion later, Christie rambled 31 yards to paydirt on third-and-9 and Emiliano Sanchez kicked the PAT to give the Spartans a 23-7 lead 1:31 before halftime.
Then on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Christie took a handoff, found a hole off left tackle and then sprinted 71 yards down the left sideline for another touchdown and Sanchez converted the point-after to put Villa Park up, 30-7.
Set up by Dayton Savea’s 24-yard punt return, Damien later put together a nine-play, 62-yard scoring drive capped by Alani Tuifua’s 20-yard pass to Wyatt Ho-Williams. The extra point attempt was blocked, but the Monarchs cut the deficit to 30-13 with 1:43 to go in the third quarter.
However, the Spartans quickly answered just 54 seconds later, as Lewis connected with Jarell Spencer on a 50-yard TD pass just two plays after the ensuing kickoff with Sanchez tacking on the PAT to make it 37-13.
Villa Park rolled up 437 yards of total offense, including 308 on the ground. Chistie, Ancich and Fraser combined for 264 of those rushing yards, with four touchdowns between them.
“We’re fortunate … there’s not any dropoff in any of those guys, they can all run the ball pretty damn good,” Spartans coach Dusan Ancich said. “And our O-line gotta a little good push.”
Coach Ancich said it was a successful way to open the season, both on and off the field.
“It’s been an awesome trip, it’s pretty special for our boys, Hawai’i is first class,” he said. “I think this trip will last a lot more than that score will.”
MAHALO TO THESE SPONSORS FOR PROUDLY SUPPORTING HAWAI’I HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS & HELPING TO PROVIDE US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO COVER ATHLETES AND SCHOOLS HERE IN THE 808.
